Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Nguyen.
Hi Catherine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I used to paint. I started taking snapshots of places I wanted to remember to paint later. Then in 2000, I came back from a few trips with over 30 rolls of film from a point-and-shoot camera. My boyfriend gave me a Nikon FA for Christmas that year. I started taking classes at the Cooper Union in NYC here and there to explore photography. In 2004, I decided to leave NYC to go back to school for a BFA in commercial photography. I moved to San Francisco and attended the Academy of Art University.
While at the AAU, I focused on fashion on location as well as beauty and still life photography. I interned with Noel Barnhurst, a well-known commercial food photographer. I assisted several different photographers in the Bay. I also tried my hand at wedding and real estate photography. When I graduated in 2008, I was shooting for Open Homes Photography, a high-end real estate photography firm in the area. I credit John Hayes with teaching me about shooting and editing real estate photography. Later in 2008, the housing market fell apart, so I had to pivot. I ended up working for a hospitality content creator based out of Vancouver, Canada. I spent the next year covering the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest during the summer. I think I shot over 145 properties during that time. It taught me a lot about shooting under varying and tough circumstances.
When I returned to SF, I had been on the road for over 3.5 months straight. I decided to focus on shooting locally. I started working with interior designers, a decorative painter, and some builders. I built my business and continued to hone my craft.
In 2013, my husband and I decided to return to the East coast. We ended up in Raleigh, NC to live near family. Raleigh is a burgeoning small city. I feel like it is a city on the cusp, especially in the building and interior design communities.
Our move spurred some of the biggest growth for my company I had ever experienced. It has been an amazing time to live in Raleigh.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been bumpy at times. When the economy went bust in 2008, I had to pivot. When I got H1N1 while shooting on the road in 2009, I had to pivot. When I decided to relocate to Raleigh, I had to rebuild my client base.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a commercial and editorial interiors and architectural photographer. I am known for capturing spaces with an editorial bent. I like to work with the designers, stylists and Creative Directors to create stories in the spaces I am shooting. I am happiest when collaborating with a team of talented creatives.
I am proud of the reputation I’ve built in the Raleigh area over the past 13 years. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work with the best designers and builders in the area. I am also proud to have been featured in Architectural Digest several times! It is a dream come true.
I believe the level of attention to detail in styling and production sets me apart from others.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to keep working toward national publication as well as continuing to build lasting relationships with my clients.
I have a special project in the works. It is under wraps at the moment, but I cannot wait to share more!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.catherinenguyen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catnguyenphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catnguyenphoto
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catnguyenphoto/
- Other: https://share.google/uFr9JXyhGJ8BPhVwp
